Spanish directors fake it in Sitges

Faux trailers compete for Teaserland prize

SITGES — Helmer Isabel Coixet presented a trailer for “Don’t Talk to Me About Life When I’m Dying” at the Sitges fest Saturday. Pic is a follow-up to her Ben Kingsley-Penelope Cruz starrer “Elegy.”

The film, shot in color-drained HD with dialogue in English and Russian, is a comedy turning on the last few days of a terminally-ill suicide-contemplating cancer victim. Washing machines figure a lot in the trailer.

A new talent initiative, whose popularity is surprising its creators, fest was launched by Spanish communication companies Vasaver and Accion Media, and directed by Xavi Bru.

It invites competitors to make a mock trailer lasting up to 90 seconds of a non-existing film and post it online. Winner will be announced January 2009. Spain’s Canal Plus will put up facilities — studios, an editing suite — worth Euros30,000 ($42,540) for the winner to make a short film.